Bharti aur Bibo

Lakshmi Sehgal 

The Captain of Azad Hind Fauj 

Influenced by Subhas Chandra Bose, a young doctor, Lakshmi Sehgal, decides to lead an army of Women against the British in World War II. Overcoming several social stigmas of her time, she fought for her country’s political, economic and social independence till her old age.

Ahalyabai Holkar

Maratha Rani and Stateswoman

Destiny took her to the house of the royal family of Indore, her caliber took her to even greater heights. One of the greatest queens of the Maratha empire, Ahilyabai Holkar survived many challenges to establish the Maratha kingdom as a force to reckon with. Her diplomacy and philanthropy remain unmatched. Her influence can be found even today in most pilgrim centres across India.

Avvaiyar

The Sangam Poetess and Diplomat

Almost 2000 years ago, a young lady left her home on a mission to spread Dharma. Avvaiyar made complex philosophy palatable and easy for the common man of her times to understand and follow. She is attributed to have embarked on many diplomatic missions to bring peace and prosperity to the Tamil land. The wisdom of her words still continues to inspire the young and old alike. And will continue to inspire many more to come for countless generations.

Anandibai Joshi

First Female Medical Doctor

A personal tragedy triggered Anandibai Joshi to attempt the almost impossible. Having lost her child at birth, Anandibai decided to go to America and study modern medicine. With no background or money, she boldly undertook this mission with a dream to serve women in India. She faced social ostracisation and criticism for this but nothing could alter her determination to become the first woman doctor of India.

MS Subbulakshmi

Bharat Rana, Carnatic music icon 

MS Subbulakshmi overcame overwhelming social pressures to become of the greatest Carnatic singer of all times. Her flawless melodious voice, and her supreme, unmatched contribution to classical music, led her to become the first Bharat Ratna from the musical world. She supported countless causes through her art, and lived a simple contented life. She was the first Indian classical singer to have performed at the General Assembly of the United Nations, leading to great glory for our country and its traditional arts.

Mirabai

The Bhakti Poet

Mira was a princess of the Mewad region. She sacrificed her royal life to be in the service of Lord Krishna through music. She saw God in every form of life. She broke conservative limits imposed by the royal life, and moved freely with common men and women of her husband’s kingdom. She shattered narrow social views of her times, and sought a higher spiritual purpose in life. Her songs outlive her by many centuries.

Madam Cama

Lady who raised the Indian Flag outside India

Known as the mother of the Indian Freedom Movement, Madam Cama took on the British and French colonial powers to fight for India’s independence from foreign soil. She, along with Veer Savarkar, designed the first Indian national flag and raised it at the Socialist conference in Germany. The British took away her wealth, and a long jail-term by the French took away her health. But her spirit remained unconquerable till the end.

Kalpana Chawla

Indian Lady Astronaut

From being the first woman to take up Aeronautical Engineering in the Panjab University, to becoming the first Indian astronaut to go into space, Kalpana’s story is as much a story of struggle as it is that of achievements. She overcame several constraints, including funds and racial bias, to go after her dreams. Her untimely death in a spacecraft explosion did not end her story, but inspired an uplifting movement among young girls to dream for the stars.

Velu Nachiyar

The Queen who defeated East India Company

The brave queen of Sivaganga who joined hands with Hyder Ali and the Maruthu brother to defeat the East India Company’s troops in the South. The foreigners were no match for her strategy of guerilla warfare and battle tactics. The body blow that she and her commander, Kuyili gave to the British, pushed their colonial dreams back by several decades. Her sacrifice is the stuff of legends in several parts of Tamil Nadu even today.

Pandita Ramabai

Social Reformer and Educationist

Overcoming poverty and societal stigma, Ramabai boldly advocated women education. She was a Sanskrit scholar and reformer. She established Mukti Mission, that still serves destitute women. Her decision to marry someone outside her community, penning controversial books on religious thought, and questioning the then prevalent norms, led to a tremendous pushback by the conservative elements of the society. Her contribution to the modern education system and women empowerment continues to inspire women even after a century.

Rani Rudramma

Kakatiya Queen whose reign was called the Golden Era of the Telugus

Against the established soceital norms of er time, she took over the reins of her father’s kingdom after his demise. Established ports, hospitals, universities, trading networks, and built temples and irrigation canals. Kept fighting throughout her life to protect her kingdom, leading her army for her final battle at the age of 80. Her reign is called the Golden Period of the Telugu Civilization.

Matangini Hazra

Freedom Fighter from Bengal Presidency

Born into an extremely poor family in Tamluk district of rural Bengal, she got married in her childhood, and widowed when she was not yet 18. Decided to work for the education, healthcare and general well-being of poor women across many villages in her region throughout her life. Got influenced by Gandhiji during her youth, and led an uprising in Tamluk against the British. During the Quit India Movement, she led a march against the British even though she was in her seventies, and was shot dead by the police. She was lovingly called Gandhi Buri, that is, Old Woman Gandhi. by her followers in Tamluk.

Pritilata Waddedar

Revolutionary who sacrificed her life for the nation’s dignity

Born in Chittagong, she always dreamt of teaching and moulding young impressionable minds as a teacher. She managed to become a school teacher at a young age and fulfilled her dream, but then came into contact with firebrand revolutionary leader Surjaya Sen, who led the famous Chittagong rebellion against the British. After their rebellion was crushed by the British, and their leaders arrested, she, along with a few other revolutionaries, attacked a British Club in Calcutta, and died fighting the British there.

Maniben Patel

Freedom fighter, social reformer and Parliamentarian from Gujarat

She was the daughter of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel. While he was abroad for his law education, she was raised at her Uncle, Vitthalbhai Patel’s home in Mumbai. She volunteered at Gandhiji’s Sabarmati Ashram for many years, and then contributed significantly towards India’s freedom struggle by working as Secretary, and right hand, to her father. After her father’s death post Independence, she entered active politics, and was a Member of Parliament for many years, working actively for the upliftment of the poor and the needy, doing her best to fulfill her illustrious father’s legacy till her last breath.

Rani Gaidinliu

Spiritual leader and freedom fighter from North East

She was a tribal Leader from the hills around Nagaland, who was worshipped as a Devi. After her relative Haipou Jaidong’s death, she led his Heraka movement for a long time, which was aimed at preserving the ancient traditions and rituals of the tribals, especially against Christian Missionaries. As a part of this movement, she started an armed rebellion against the British, and after many encounters with their soldiers, she was arrested and given life imprisonment. Pandit Nehru fought passionately for her release, calling her - Daughter of the Hills, but in vain. He set her free as soon as he became PM, but she continued fighting against conversions even after Independence.

Rani Rashomani

Social Reformer from Kolkata

She belonged to a lower caste Fishermen community, but married a Zamindar’s son. Took multiple initiatives for the welfare of the poor, like building famous Ghats on the Hooghly river in Kolkata, arranging for drinking water for the poor etc. She also co-proposed Bills along with Ishwara Chandra Vidyasagar for eradication of polygami, Sati Pratha, and Child Marriage. She took on the mighty East India Company who were taxing poor fishermen on the Hooghly, and outsmarted them comprehensively, which is her biggest legacy.

Saalumarada Thimmakka

Legendary environmentalist/

eco-warrior from Karnataka

Poor uneducated woman who planted almost four hundred saplings along a sunny, deserted road years ago, and tended after them like her own children, till they grew up to be tall and thick trees and gave shade and shelter to thousands of people travelling along that modern-day highway. When it seemed that the trees are about to be cut for wideninhg the highway, she took on the Chief Minister of Karnataka himself, and convinced him to let her trees survive and thrive.

Rani Abbakka

Legendary queen of Ullal

Warrior queen who took on Portuguese invading armies multiple times, and kept driving them away. She was defeated after being betrayed, but her spirit could never be crushed, and she kept on fighting the foreigners till her last breath.

Parbati Giri

Freedom Fighter from Odisha

Nicknamed the Mother Teresa of Western Odisha, was a prominent female freedom fighter from Odisha, India. The women freedom fighters of Odisha played a significant role in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Due to her anti-British government activities, she was imprisoned for two years.

Rani Durgavati

Queen from modern day Jabalpur, Gondwana Kingdom

She was a fierce warrior who won 52 battles against enemy kingdoms which surrounded her husband’s kingdom of Gondwana, including defeating the legendary Baaz Bahadur, and the Suris in Delhi, and Afghans in Bengal. Her kingdom prospered by leaps and bounds during her regency, with great focus on education and irrigation, and so much surplus grain that they were exporting it to other kingdoms far away in the country too. Her final battle was against the mighty Mughal Empire, which she nearly won against heavy odds, and ultimately, sacrificed her own life to protect her kingdom and its people.